BioAge Labs Partners with Novartis to Discover Targets for Age-Related Therapies

BioAge Labs, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for metabolic diseases by addressing the biological aspects of human aging, has announced a strategic research partnership with Novartis. This collaboration is designed to discover and validate new therapeutic drug targets by examining the biological processes that contribute to age-related diseases and the positive impacts of physical exercise.

BioAge leverages its proprietary platform built from extensive human longevity data, which includes access to long-term aging cohorts tracked over several decades. This platform integrates detailed health information and functional assessments. By applying advanced analytical techniques and machine learning, BioAge aims to pinpoint the determinants of a healthy lifespan, thus facilitating the discovery and development of new therapies.

Kristen Fortney, the CEO and co-founder of BioAge, emphasized the value of their platform in highlighting promising therapeutic pathways that have the potential to enhance health outcomes. She views the collaboration with Novartis as an opportunity to expand the capabilities of BioAge's platform to uncover and develop new drug targets.

BioAge's partner, Novartis, brings its expertise in exercise biology to the table. Michaela Kneissel, Global Head of Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicine at Novartis, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. She stated that combining BioAge's human longevity data with Novartis’s scientific knowledge of exercise biology could help identify new therapeutic targets. The goal is to explore the intersection of human aging and the biological mechanisms behind the benefits of physical exercise to develop innovative treatments for age-associated diseases.

Peng Leong, Chief Business Officer and Head of Brain Aging at BioAge, highlighted the collaboration's significance. He noted that the partnership underscores a growing recognition of the importance of understanding aging biology as a strategy to address disease. This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to hasten the development of a wide range of transformative therapies targeting new mechanisms identified by BioAge's platform, ultimately benefiting patients across various conditions.

The terms of the agreement state that BioAge will receive up to $20 million in upfront payments and research funding, along with the potential for up to $530 million in future research, development, and commercial milestones. Both Novartis and BioAge retain the right to advance novel targets discovered through the collaboration. They are also eligible to receive reciprocal success milestones and tiered royalties.

BioAge is advancing its lead product candidate, azelaprag, an orally available small molecule agonist of APJ. In a Phase 1b clinical trial, azelaprag was found to promote metabolism and prevent muscle atrophy during bed rest. BioAge is also working on developing orally available small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of diseases driven by neuroinflammation. These preclinical programs are based on novel insights from the company's discovery platform built on human longevity data, addressing key pathways in metabolic aging.

This partnership between BioAge and Novartis marks a significant step in utilizing human longevity data combined with scientific expertise in exercise biology to discover and develop new therapeutic targets. By focusing on the biological underpinnings of aging and the benefits of physical exercise, the collaboration aims to provide new treatment options for diseases related to aging. Through this initiative, both companies aim to significantly expand their therapeutic reach and contribute to improved health outcomes for patients worldwide.